#AmericanWriters
Children, I come back today To tell you a story of the long da… That I had to climb, that I had t… In order that the race might live… Look at my face —dark as the night…
The ivory gods, And the ebony gods, And the gods of diamond and jade, Sit silently on their temple shelv… While the people
In places like Selma, Alabama, Kids say, In places like Chicago and New York...
I would liken you To a night without stars Were it not for your eyes. I would liken you To a sleep without dreams
And that is what poetry may do, wrap up your dreams, protect and preserve and hold them until maybe they come true. Columbus dreamed of finding a new world, he found it. Edison dreamed ...
To fling my arms wide In some place of the sun, To whirl and to dance Till the white day is done. Then rest at cool evening
We passed their graves: The dead men there, Winners or losers, Did not care. In the dark
I look at the world From awakening eyes in a black fac… And this is what I see: This fenced—off narrow space Assigned to me.
When the shoe strings break On both your shoes And you’re in a hurry— That’s the blues. When you go to buy a candy bar
Love Is a ripe plum Growing on a purple tree. Taste it once And the spell of its enchantment
My old man’s a white old man And my old mother’s black. If ever I cursed my white old man I take my curses back. If ever I cursed my black old mot…
The rent man knocked. He said, Howdy—do? I said, What Can I do for you? He said, You know
You sicken me with lies, With truthful lies. And with your pious faces. And your wide, out—stretched, mock—welcome, Christian hands.
Clean the spittoons, boy. Detroit, Chicago, Atlantic City, Palm Beach.
He glides so swiftly Back into the grass— Gives me the courtesy of road To let me pass, That I am half ashamed